Firm support for renewable future

We are very concerned by your report of a possible delay to the introduction of the feed-in tariff scheme due to problems preparing the legislation, and we urge the government to do everything it can to ensure the scheme starts on time next month (Feed-in tariff delay alarms energy sector, 4 March).

However, it is inaccurate to say that criticism of the government's feed-in tariff scheme has traditionally been limited to groups opposed to wind or solar power. We campaigned for a UK feed-in tariff to support small-scale renewable electricity – and welcome its introduction – but we have always demanded that the final scheme must be accessible to the fuel poor and low-income communities.

While the increase in solar photovoltaic (PV) tariffs that we called for has now brought this technology within reach of social landlords, much more must be done to ensure that low-income groups benefit from the reduced electricity bills local renewable energy can bring.

The scheme must also be reformed to give other technologies the welcome support it will deliver to small-scale solar PV and wind power. Anaerobic digestion, community wind projects, sustainable biomass generation and river hydro schemes all deserve a better deal.

Greater support for small-scale renewable energy is vital, but so is a huge increase in the resources for domestic energy-efficiency measures. Both are essential to deliver energy security, cut carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty.

• So George Monbiot thinks solar PV panels are a mere fashion accessory that at this latitude produce risible amounts of electricity, does he (Comment, 2 March)? Here in Sheffield our modest array of panels generated 2067kWh last year – just short of the 2183kWh of electricity consumed by our three-person household. In addition to saving 1,172kg of CO2 emissions we no longer have to pay for electricity and, even before the introduction of a feed-in tariff, look forward each time a "bill" arrives to the net income we receive for the electricity we "export" to the grid. Based on our experience, solar electricity offers a far more effective and constructive solution to the problems of global warming and finite fossil-fuel resources than the hugely expensive and environmentally harmful nuclear option Monbiot appears to favour.